By Kevin Sabo
For the Advance
While many in Castor are asleep in their homes, a vigilant few are keeping watch on our community.
Headed by Randy Kary, Castor Nightwatch has been in operation for just over a year, with its purpose being to deter criminals from descending on the town. It’s a purpose that is having the desired effect.
“They see us, they run,” said Kary. “Absolutely, it’s working.”
Kary gave an example of an unfamiliar vehicle travelling slowly through downtown in the dead of night, with its lights off. When the marked Castor Nightwatch vehicle turned on its lights, the other vehicle turned and fled to Hwy 12 at a high rate of speed, still with lights off. This example is just a highlight of what effect having a visual presence in the community can do.
It should be noted that Castor Nightwatch does not engage any would-be criminals. That job is left to the members of the Coronation RCMP, who are called about any unusual activity in town, usually along with a plate number and vehicle description.
Castor Nightwatch was formed due to the lack of RCMP presence in town, and a rash of break-ins that occurred in 2017, where several businesses in town were broken into, including one where it was broken into three times in as many months.
But the vigilant few need help.
“We need volunteers,” said Kary, who has already done at least 50 shifts himself in the first several months of the year. The group started up with enough people to spread the shifts around, however in the last year numbers have dropped off significantly, and to remain a presence more volunteers are needed.
Money is needed as well. Kary has donated money to group members for fuel during their Nightwatch shifts, along with others in the community. More is needed, though, as many volunteers pay for fuel out of their own pockets. During the summer when vehicles don’t idle as much, the fuel costs are low, however, once winter closes in fuel costs for the volunteers will soar due to the increased running of the vehicles to stay warm.
For more information or to volunteer or donate to Castor Nightwatch, please contact Randy Kary at Castor Value Drugmart at (403) 882-3055.